Water heater



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WATER HEATER Henry B. Babson, Chicago, and Chester A. Thomas, CrystalLake, Ill., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Losee Products Co., a corporation of Illinois Application March 1, 1944, Serial No. 524,538

15 claims. (ci. zia-ss) 4 This invention relates to a water heater, and more particularly to an electric water heater of the displacement or over-flow type.

One feature of the present invention is that it provides an improved heater of the over-now type adapted to discharge hot Water from an inner reservoir tank through a delivery pipe upon the introduction of cold water to the inner tank, the introduction of cold water effecting displacement and delivery of an equal volume of hot Water; another feature of this invention is the provision of an improved type of inner tank; still another feature of this invention is the provision of an opening at the bottom of the tank, and a well of larger diameter in the heat-insulating enclosure surrounding the tank, in such manner that the interior of the tank may be readily Washed and cleaned; yet another feature of this invention is the provision of a closure member for the bottom opening adapted to be received in the well and to make sealing engagement with the inner tank about the periphery of the Opening; a further feature of this invention is the mounting of the electrical heating element and the thermostat control element on the clo'-y sure element, so that all three of such elements may be removed as a unit and all electrical parts subject to failure can be conveniently tested and repaired; still a further feature of this invention is the provision of an improved arrangement for holding the inner tank in desired position within the insulating enclosure; yet a further feature is theprovision of a pivotal connection between the upper water-holding portion of the heater and the lower base portion, facilitating tipping of the Water-holding portion for easy draining, removal of the closure member with the electrical elements thereon, and washing of the tank interior; still another feature of this invention is the provision of an improved inner tank construction with rounded corners facilitating cleaning; and another feature is the provision of means at the end of each leg, in the form of removable spacing members and a cup-shaped holding member, for quick and convenient leveling of the heater on a sloping floor. Other features and advantages of this invention will'be apparent from the following specication and the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side View, principally in vertical section, of aheater embodying this invention; Figure 2 is a view along the line 2 2 of Figure 1, looking upwardly; Figure 3 is a partial side'elevational view of the heater with the water-holding portion tipped over to draining and cleaning 2 position; Figure 4 is an enlargedvfragmentary sectional view of a portion of Figure l; and Figure 5 is a detailed view of the pivotal connection, along the line 5-5 of Figure 3. n

The present invention comprises improve` ments in water heaters 'of the displacement type'. While such heaters are adapted for a number of uses, including domestic water heating, such water heaters have found particular favor on dairy farms for use in the barns and milk houses, and the particular heater shown here was designed for such a purpose. One type of electric water heater of the displacement type now on the market is shown, for example, in'Losee Reissue Patent 21,393 of March 12, 1940. ,Th'e heater disclosed and claimed here has certain advantages and features, as heretofore described, not found in the heater shown in such patent.

A water heater of the displacement type come prises an inner reservoir tank, a heat-insulating enclosure, supply and delivery connections, and a heating element and thermostat control adapted automatically'tov maintain the water in the tank at a Adesired temperature,a`s1l0 F. The

' tank is maintained full of water atl all times, de-y livery therefrom being only by over-flow from the top of the tank when a new'amount of Water is supplied thereto. The supply connection is A arranged to deliver the new water to the bottom of the tank; whereas the delivery of hot Water is by over-now at the top of the tank. By virtue of this arrangement, cold water can be poured into 'the heater, and `an equal amount of hotwatervtaken' 'from the top of the heater without any reduction in temperature, the hot water tending always to stay at the top of the tank and the'new cold water at the bottom. With thisarrangement a farmer who wants a bucket of hot water need only walk up to the heater with a bucket of cold water, pour it in, and an equal amount of hot water is delivered either to the same or a different bucket. As may be readily seen, such a water heater is particularly convenient for dairy barns, milk houses and similar locations where there is no fuel supply for heat# ing, and where hot water is only drawn off in relatively small quantities at spaced intervals. A heater of the type shown here can deliver practically all its contents at full heat when hot water is desired, as at milking time; and the economy ofv slow heating may be effected in heat; ing up the new 'water before the next occasion for using yhot Water.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated here, aninner tank l0, which may be .all changes in direction of the interior tank surface are by means of curves of substantial radius, as may be best seen from an inspection of Figure 1.

'I'he tank is surrounded by .a heat-insulating enclosure comprising an outer metal shellyjfII spaced from the tank by several inches, and neatinsulating material I2, as glass wool, .cork blocks or any other appropriate material. The Vouter metal shell may be of sheet iron or steel provided with an appropriate enamel or other finish; and it is here shown as divided into three portions. These comprise a top or cap portion-I Ia, a main cylindrical bodyportion IIb, and a bottom portion Ilo. The divi-sion of the Vouter shell into such parts facilitates its manufacture 4and also facilitates making of supply and delivery connections to the inner tank I0, assembly of the parts, and the insertion of the heat-insulating material.

lThe top of thev tank and .shell are provided with registering openings through which new cold water may be supplied to the tank, such new water being directedto the very bottom of the tank by use of the .pl-pe I3 terminating near the bottom of the inner tank I0. The upper vend of the pipe I3 is soldered or otherwise appropriately sealed to the opening in the top of the tank, and makes water-tight connection with a heat-insulating tube I4, which may be of hard rubber or an appropriate plastic. This tube I 4 is connected to the supply opening in the center of the shell Vcap IIa in any appropriate manner, as by the use of lock nuts. A pouring receptacle I5 has a :flanged bottom opening adapted to be closed by the stopper I6. The flange, as may be best seen in Figure 1, is a tight t within the heat-insulating tube I4. With this arrangement a farmer carrying a bucket of cold water may pour it into the receptacle I5, place his bucket on the door under the delivery connection to be described, and thenremove the stopper I6 to permit the displacement or over-dow action to take place and delivervto the bucket a volume of hot water equalto that poured into the receptacle I5;

' The top .portion Illa of the tank is provided near one edge, and an inch orso below the top of the tank, with a flanged outlet opening adapted to have a pipe elbow I1 soldered or otherwise permanently connected thereto. An appropriate opening in the shell has a mounting for the delivery spigot I8 with an outer downwardly turned end IBa extending down below the lower end Ila of the inner elbow. Connection between adjacent but spaced ends of these elbow and spigot pipes I7 and I8 is made by a heat-insulating tube I9 of plastic or other appropriate material. The provision of a downwardly extending end on the delivery spigot creates asiphon actionwhich, once delivery ow has been started, draws water in the tank down to the level here indicated asilo. Flow does not start, however, until the-level in the supply pipe I3 and tank has risen to the height of the horizontal portions of the pipesv Il andr I8. This provides an expansion space in the top of the pipe, enabling expansion of newly de- 4 livered cold water as it heats up without dribbling on the floor beneath the delivery spigot. As will be noted from the immediately preceding description of the supply and delivery connections, and the bottom mounting for the tank to be hereafter described, all connections between the inner 'tank and the outer shell include portions of heat-insulating material, so that there'is no loss of heat through direct metal conduction.

The bottom of the tank is provided with a cenlIal opening of substantial diameter (preferably at least six or eight inches). During use of the heater, this opening is closed by `a metal closure member or plate 2|. This closure member is sealed to the tank about the periphery of the opening byreadily removable meansvwhich will be hereafter more fully described, being better shown in Figure 4. The closure member serves as a mounting means for an electrical heating element here identied as 22 and a heat-control thermostat here identied as 23. The closure plate and two electrical elements comprise a readily removable unit, this arrangement having two advantages. In the rst place, it enables that unit to be taken out for servicing or repair or even to be shipped back to the factory as a unit; and the local dealer can merely hand the farmer a new bottom unit which can be put in the heater without the use of any tools and without the need of making any connections, other than plugging the other end of the electrical cord into an appropriate wall outlet. In addition, removal of this unit provides a large opening into which the arm may be inserted for washing the interior of the tank, and results in removal of all electrical elements which might be damaged by such washing. It has been found highly desirable to provide means enabling such washing of the inside -of the tank at intervals, as otherwise the tanks may become contaminated (as by introduction of milk or other matter along with the water) and hot water drawn from the heater may have an odor.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 2 and 4, the lower end arrangement of the tank and shell will be more fullyl described. As may be best seen in Figure 4, the metal of the bottom portion Ib of the tank is bent at Ib to form an annular shoulder or flange encircling and concentric with the opening, the edge of the metal defining the actual opening being turned down in the portion I 0b. An annular metal element 24 of substantial thickness (as a half inch) is welded or otherwise permanently fastened to the tank immediately around the bottom opening; and it is tapped with a plurality of holes adapted to receive the threaded ends of thumb-screw studs 25. Six of these studs are shown here (see Figure 2), but it will be Vunderstood that any appropriate number may be used. The outer edge of the closure member Z-I is formed in a channel (best seen in Figure Llireceiving an annular gasket 26 of rubber or other appropriate sealing material. With this arrangement the closure member may be placed in sealing relation to the tank, or readily removed therefrom, simply by putting in or taking out the thumb-screw studs 25.

A cylindrical member 21, of heat-insulating material such as plastic, is adapted to encircle and closely engage the shoulder orV ilange 10b at its upper end; and to be received in a channel portionv IIc' in the bottom shell portion IIc, this channel portion deiining an opening in the bottom Shell' portion. of larger diameter than and registering with the bottom opening in the tank I0. The heat-insulating cylinder 2l defines a well within which the closure member 2l is received; and it provides a rigid connection between the bottom of the tank and the bottom shell member llc, this latter serving, in conjunction with the connections at the top of the tank, to maintain the tank rigidly in the desiredv position in the shell during shipment and the like. If desired, a heat-insulating disc 28, of felt or other fibrous material, may be pushed up into the well to improve the heat insulation at the bottom of the tank. This disc or pad 28 may be provided with an opening 28a for the electrical cord 29; and a cut (not shown) may extend from this opening 28a to the edge of the pad to facilitate insertion of the cord in the opening.

The water-holding portion which has heretofore been described is mounted on a base portion here shown as comprising three legs 30a, 30h and 30e, rigidly connected by a web or spider 30d. The back leg 30a (the leg opposite the spigot I8) is not connected to the base portion llc of the shell in any way, the shell merely being adapted to abut or sit upon the upper end of the leg 30a. The other two legs 30h and 30e are connected to the water-holding portion by a pivotal connection enabling the water-hlding portion to pivot about a horizontal axis through and near the upper ends of these two legs. The arrangement in connection with each of these two legs is identical, so only one will be described. Referring now more particularly to the leg 30C, and the detailed showing comprising Figure 5, it will be seen that a connecting bracket has a portion 3Ia fastened to the bottom portion Hc of the shell, and a downwardly extending portion 3Ib. This latter portion extends down several inches, being pivotally mounted on the stud 32 mounted in the upper end of the pipe forming the leg 30e. The front edge of the upper end of this pipe is provided with a slot 30e', so that the portion 3lb of the mounting bracket extends out through this slot when the waterholding portion of the heater is tilted to the position shown in Figure 3. The provision of a downwardly extending portion 3lb on the mounting bracket is necessary in order that the bottom of the shell may swing out and let the waterholding portion go down to the downwardly tilting angle shown in Figure 3 without it being stopped with contact of the two front legs of the base portion; and the horizontal arrangement provides a concealed mounting so that, when the heater is viewed with the side and the water-holding portion is upright the legs appear to be rigidly fastened to the bottom of the heater body. The axis of pivotal mounting, of course, must be sufficiently spaced above the floor (preferably in the neighborhood of fifteen inches or cr more) that the water-holding portion may assume the position illustrated in solid lines in Figure 3.

This pivotal mounting arrangement has several advantages. In the rst place, it keeps the well in the bottom of the heater sufficiently high above the floor that the closure plate 2| may be readily removed when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 3. In the second place, it keeps the bottom end of the water-holding portion sufficiently higher than the top end, when in tilted position, that water readily drains from the spigot I8. This enables the entire contents of the tank to be drained out before the closure member is removed; and after the inside of the tank has been scrubbed out, it enables it to be flushed with water without any of the rinsing water remaining in the tank at the end of the washing operation. Merely pulling a water heater with rigid legs over on its side fails to have these advantages.

In addition, as may be best seen in Figure 1, the lower ends of the legs are provided with adjusting means enabling the heater to be set in an exactly vertical or upright position in spite of a slight slope in the floor. This is here accomplished by providing spacer members at the bottom of each leg, in the form of discs of metal about 1/th of an inch thick, these being here identified as 33a and 33D. Any selected number of such slugs (up to a reasonable number) may be held in place under a leg, as the leg 30a, by a cup-like holding member 34, which may be of rubber. If the legs are initially provided with two spacer members under each, it will be apparent that these can be shifted around, in leveling, so that two of the legs have one, and the other leg has as many as six such members under it. This provides suiiicient adjustment to meet floor slopes normally encountered in dairy barns or milk houses, and provides a much sim- .pler and more practical manner of adjustment than by providing telescoping parts in the legs.

While we have shown and described certain embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A water heater of the character described, including: an inner tank having an opening of substantial area in the bottom thereof; a heatinsulating enclosure for said tank, the enclosure having a well registering with said opening; and an inwardly and upwardly extending bottom forming a depression; a hinge member secured to said bottom in said depression; a closure member adapted to be received in said well and to make sealing engagement with said tank to close said opening; an electrical heating element mounted in said closure member; thermostat control means mounted in said closure member, whereby all electrical elements are readily removable as a unit with the closure member; and a base portion for tiltably supporting the device and having a pivotal connection with said hinge member.

2. A water heater of the character described, including: an inner tank having an opening of substantial area in the bottom thereof; an enclosure for said tank having a well registering with said opening7 the enclosure comprising an outer` metal shell and heat-insulating material therewithin said outer shell having an upwardly extending concavity; a hinge member secured to said bottom in said concavity; connections at the top of the heater for supplying water to the tank and for delivering an equal volume of water overflowing from the top thereof, all connections between the tank and shell including portions of heat-insulating material; a closure member adapted to be received in said Well and to make sealing engagement with said tank to close said opening; an electrical heating element mounted in said closure member; thermostat control means mounted in said closure member, whereby all electrical elements are readily removable as a unit with` the closure member; and a basev portion for tiltably supporting the device and having a pivotal connection with said hinge member;

3. .Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 2, including readily removable means for detachably maintaining the closure member in sealing engagement with the tank about the periphery of the opening.

4. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 2, wherein the closure member is of metal and thereis an additional member of heat-insulating material adapted to be received by and retained in said well below the closure member.

5. A water heater of the over-flow type, including: a water-holding portion including an inner tank and an enclosure for said tank comprising heat-insulating material said enclosure having, an inwardly and upwardly inclined bottom forming a depression; a hinge member secured'to said bottom in said depression; a base portion for supporting the water-holding portion; and a pivotal connection between said base portion and hinge member.

6. A Water heater of the over-ow type, including: a water-holding portion including an inner tank having an opening of substantial area in the bottom thereof, an enclosure for said tank having a well registering with said opening, the enclosure comprising an outer metal shell and heat-insulatingr material therewithin, all connections between the tank and shell including portions of heat-insulating material, said outer shell having an inwardly and upwardly inclined bottom forming a depression; a hinge member secured to the bottom in said depression; a closure member for said opening, and an electrical heating element and a thermostat control element mounted in said closure member; a base portion for supporting the water-holding portion; and a pivotal connection between said base portion and hinge member.

7. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 5,v including a water-delivery connection in one side of the water-holding portion near the top thereof, the pivotal connection being adjacent this side.

8. A water heater of the over-now type, including: a water-holding portion including an inner tank having an opening of substantial area in the bottom thereof; an enclosure for said tank havinga well registering with said opening, the enclosure comprising an outer metal shell and heat-insulating material therewithin, all connections between the tank and shell including ,portions of heat-insulating material; a closure member for said opening, and an electrical heating element and a thermostat control element mounted in said closure member; a base portion for supporting the water-holding portion; a pivotal connection between said portions; and a water-delivery connection in one side of the Water-holding portion near the top thereof, the pivotal connection being adjacent this side and substantially spaced from the bottom of the base portion, whereby the Water-holding portion may be readily tipped to a position wherein the delivery connection end of the tank is lower than the bottom end thereof 9. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 6, wherein the pivotal connection includes means for spacing the water-holding portion from the axis of pivotal movement.

10. A water heater of the over-now type including: a water-holding portion including an inner tank having an opening of substantial area in the bottom thereof; an enclosure for said tank having a well registering with said opening, the enclosure comprising an outer metal shell and heat-insulating material therewithin, all connections between the tank and shell including portions of heat insulating material; a closure member for said opening, and an electrical heating element and a thermostat control element mounted in said closure member; a base portion for supporting the water-holding portion; a pivotal connection between said portions; and a water-delivery connection in one side of the water-holding portion near the top thereof, the pivotal connection being adjacent this side and substantially spaced from the bottom of the base portion, the pivotal connection including means for spacing the water-holding portion from the axis of pivotal movement, whereby the waterholding portion may be readily tipped to a pcstion wherein the-delivery'connection end of the tank is lower than the bottom end thereof.

11. A water heater of the over-flow type, including: a water-holding portion including an inner tank and an enclosure for said tank comprising heat-insulating material; a base portion for supporting the water-holding portion, the base portion comprising a plurality of legs and at least one leg having associated therewith, at the lower end thereof, a plurality of spacer members and a cup shaped holding member; and a pivotal connection between said portions.

12. A water heater of the over-flow type, including: a water-holding portion including an inner tank having an opening of substantial area in the bottom thereof; an enclosure for said tank having a well registering with said opening, the enclosure comprising an outer metal shell and heat-insulating material therewithin, all connections between the tank and shell including portions of heat-insulating material, a closure member for said opening, and an electrical heating element and a thermostat control element mounted in said closure member; a base portion for supporting the water-holding portion, the base portion comprising a plurality of legs, at least one leg having associated therewith, at the lower end thereof, a plurality of spacer members and a cup-shaped holding member; and a pivotal connection between said portions.

13. A water heater of the character described, including: an inner tank having an opening of substantial area in the bottom thereof, said tank being formed of two drawn metal end portions joined by a central annular seam and all changes in direction of the inner surface of the tank being by means of curves of substantial radius; a heat-insulating enclosure for said tank, the enclosure having a well registering with said opening; a closure member adapted to be received in said well and to make sealing engagement with said tank to close said opening; an electrical heating element mounted in said closure member; and thermo-stat control means mounted in said closure member, whereby all electrical elements are readily removable as a unit with the closure member.

14. A water heater of the character described, comprising: a water-holding portion including an inner tank having an opening of substantial area in the bottom thereof; an enclosure for said tank having a well registering with said opening, the enclosure comprising an outer metal shell and heat-insulating material therewithin, all connections between the tank and shell including portions of heat-insulating material; a. closure member adapted to be received in said well and to make sealing engagement with said tank to close said opening; a base portion for supporting the water-holding portion; and a pivotal connection between the base portion and the water-holding portion whereby said water-holding portion may be swung from a vertical position to a lowered position with relation to the base portion.

15. A water heater of the character described, including: an inner tank having an opening of substantial area in the bottom thereof; a heatinsulating enclosure for said tank, the enclosure havingr a well registering with said opening, and

10 a bottom; a hinge member secured to said enclosure bottom; a closure member adapted to be received in said well and to make sealing engagement with said tank to close said opening; an electric heating element mounted in said closure member; thermostat control means mounted in said closure member, whereby all electric elements are readily removable as a unit with the closure member; and a base portion fortiltably 10 supporting the tank and enclosure and having a pivotal connection with said hinge member.

HENRY B. BABSON. CHESTER A. THOMAS. 

